AMLC freezes P21.2B assets in anomalous flood control projects investigation

The Anti-Money Laundering Council (AMLC) has frozen an estimated P21.2 billion in assets in connection to the investigation on anomalous flood control projects, an official of the Bureau of Customs (BOC) said Tuesday.

“As to frozen assets, we [inaudible] P21.2 billion already, comprising bank accounts, e-wallets, insurance policies, motor vehicles, and air assets,” Chris Bendijo, BOC deputy chief of staff, said in a press briefing.

For his part, Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI) special adviser Rodolfo Azurin Jr. said that they are seeking the cooperation of the public in order to speed up the recovery of assets.

“Kung lahat ng mga nakakaalam ng mga asset na kailangang i-recover natin. Siguro malaking bagay ‘yun para sa ICI and the other agencies dahil nakita naman natin ‘yung committment ng bawat agency nakapag meron kang binigay na trabaho, eh, tra-trabahuhin naman,” he said.

(If everyone who knows about the assets that need to be recovered comes forward, that would probably be a big help to the ICI and the other agencies, because we have seen the commitment of each agency that once you give them a task, they really work on it.)

According to Azurin, it was a private individual who voluntarily approached the ICI with information regarding the luxury vehicles allegedly linked to former Ako Bicol party-list Rep. Zaldy Co.

He declined to provide further details about the individual to maintain their privacy, but denied that the individual is part of the ICI, a police officer, or in the military.

“Ano lang, siguro may ano, meron siyang kaalaman, gusto niyang tumulong. Gusto niyo ba malaman kung nasaan ‘yung mga sasakyan ni Zaldy Co. ‘Yun. At chineck ng mga tao natin. ‘Yun nga may mga binigay na plate numbers,” he said.

(Well, maybe he has some knowledge, he wants to help. Do you want to know where Zaldy Co.'s vehicles are? That’s it. And our people checked. That’s right, there were plate numbers provided.)

Meanwhile, the ICI earlier held a meeting on asset recovery over anomalous flood control projects, its first for the year.

According to the ICI, the meeting was chaired by Cybercrime Investigation and Coordinating Center Acting Executive Director Atty. Renato Paraiso.

When asked why ICI chairman Andres Reyes was not present during the meeting, officials said that he was not feeling well.

The last technical working group meeting was on December 16, 2025. –NB, GMA Integrated News